Churches inching towards uniting

More than 200 years after the Methodists split from the Anglican Church, the churches yesterday took the first step towards a possible union in Australia.

The triennial assembly of the Uniting Church of Australia has agreed to "take all possible and necessary steps" towards a covenant of association and intercommunion with the Anglican Church.

Under the covenant, each church would recognise each other's ministers and even share ministers, services and resources.

Both churches are also holding similar discussions with the Lutheran Church in Australia.

The Uniting Church, formed in 1977 from Methodist, Congregational and some Presbyterian churches, is Australia's third-largest denomination. ");document.write("

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The Anglican Church, which is the second-largest denomination, approved working towards such a covenant at its last general synod two years ago.

Coincidentally, the Church of England made an almost identical covenant on Sunday at its synod in York, following English Methodist approval on July 1.

In England and Australia, the churches agreed to work on a statement of agreement on the essentials of faith and ministries.

North Brisbane Bishop Richard Appleby, the Anglican co-convener of the joint working group, said yesterday the group had made a lot of progress.

"There's been a very good relationship between the churches, and we're eager to keep it moving," he said.

The Reverend Professor Chris Mostert, the Uniting Church convener of the group, said the statement and the covenant were the first two stages towards mutual recognition.

The third stage would be a pact of communion, the fullest possible relationship between separated churches, and the fourth would be full union. "Certainly we are not at this point," Professor Mostert said.

Delegates at the Uniting Church assembly were concerned that their women ministers would continue to be recognised under a possible union (they will be), and that their deacons would be able to preside over holy communion (they will not - the Uniting Church is the only mainstream church that allows it).

Professor Mostert later told The Age that mutual recognition of ministry was the outstanding snag in all ecumenical discussion, especially between churches with bishops (like the Anglican Church) and those without (like the Uniting Church).